About Carrie Herthwell

Is Carrie Herthwell your real name?

No, it’s a pseudonym. I’d rather my legal name wasn’t a brand, and I prefer anonymity and privacy.

Why did you choose the name Carrie Herthwell?

My late mother called me Carrie, so it feels like my name. I originally thought up ‘hearth’ (as in fireplace), but decided ‘herth’ sounded better. The ‘well’ is in honor of the legendary dystopian author George Orwell.

Why might people find your work controversial?

I have a special interest in gender, so I enjoy experimenting with gender in my fiction. Also, I write a lot of queer characters. I feel like that shouldn’t automatically make my novels controversial, but sometimes that’s all it takes.

How are you neurodivergent?

I have inattentive ADHD and possibly autism, and it affects every aspect of my life. In my case, I can go so deep into my own head, a meteor could land in the middle of the living room and I wouldn’t notice. I rarely pick up on hints, sarcasm, or double meanings, so someone can make a joke and everyone in the room will get it but me. And if I’m in a busy place, I have difficulty processing what people are saying. I’m frequently misunderstood, so I find it helpful to let people know I’m neurodivergent.

Why did you mention that you identify as queer?

I craft a lot of queer characters and I understand that readers will want to know the position I’m writing from. I consider myself queer because I’m romantically and sexually attracted to people of any gender. But I’m a cisgender woman and have only had one partner, my husband. I don’t have experience being visibly queer or dating anyone other than cisgender men.

Why do you write dystopia?

Dystopia is a great medium for exploring what-if’s. It gives me an opportunity to write about harmful power structures. Being two steps away from our real world allows me to explore ideas objectively without the pain of real-world scenarios. And, bonus: relationship drama, betrayal and manipulation fit easily into dystopia.

How is your dystopian fiction different?

Dystopian fiction is often meant to be a warning of the terrible things that can happen if humans are complacent, but my work is not a warning. It’s entertainment with depth. I flirt with multiple political and societal issues, but they’re portrayed as complex. I don’t give my readers easy answers.

What do you do for a living?

I’m currently a homemaker and an unpublished novelist. Because I’m neurodivergent, it has been difficult for me to find a career. In order to do my best work, I need a lot of environmental accommodations. I have a strong passion for writing novels and it’s the perfect career for my unique brain. I’m looking forward to self-publishing my debut novel and finding my readers!

What made you decide to become a writer?

I fell in love with writing when I was in the fourth grade, but I struggled with poor academic performance. I let various people know I wanted to be a writer, but they didn’t think it was a wise career choice. I gave up on the idea, but as time passed, my passion for writing continued to grow. When my oldest daughter was in kindergarten, I decided to try for a novelist career. I studied part time for eight years and in the past three years, I’ve been writing novels.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get inspiration from virtually everything and anything. I draw from life and from the experiences of my family and friends. I also draw from historical and current events. And of course, the media I consume influences my work. I enjoy listening to diverse perspectives, so I watch lot of video essays. And there’s nothing like hiking through the forest to stimulate my creative brain.

Do you ever run out of ideas?

I tend to have more ideas than I can possibly write, but ideas are overrated. How a novel is crafted is more important.

What’s your idea of a perfect day?

When I’m allowed to wake up, grab my laptop and write non-stop until it’s time for bed. Or the combo of strong coffee, hiking forest trails and long conversations.

What media are you into right now?

I’m currently reading Guardian by Priest and watching an anime called The Apothecary Diaries with my teenager and husband.

Can you describe your perfect book?

Speculative fiction with lovable characters, interesting relationships, power struggles, mystery, action and drama.

What do you hope your readers will walk away with after reading your novels?

I hope my readers walk away with the satisfaction of reading an exciting book along with something intriguing to contemplate.

How do you feel about fan art or fan fiction?

Personally, when I’m obsessed with a novel, I enjoy imagining the characters in different scenarios. I tend to think of it as a mark of a good book if it inspires me to create. I believe taking ideas from media, changing it and building on it, is a natural way for the creative landscape to progress. Universes that are stuck in rigid cannons eventually become dull. I like the idea of a creative community exploring and expanding on ideas.

Would you mind if individuals produced fan art or fan fiction inspired by your novels?

It would be awesome if my work inspired artists and writers to create! I have no problem with individuals crafting GeneEarth fan fiction or fan art and posting it online. I’m even okay with artists selling their fan art.

However, if it’s GeneEarth fan fiction, please get my permission before publishing and selling your work. Keep in mind, my novels are copyright and you cannot reproduce part or all of my novels without my permission.